Assembly with a removable bollard

ABSTRACT

A removable bollard is disclosed to control traffic. The present invention includes a post and base for removably receiving the post. The base has a faceplate and a downwardly depending bore. The base can be placed in and secured in the ground, or other surface, preferably with the faceplate at surface level. The faceplate has two locking apertures and the post has one through which a lock can be engaged. The post can be repeatedly inserted into the base and locked into position and, if desired, subsequently removed by unlocking it and pulling it up out of the base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0001] There is no federally sponsored research or development.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to post assemblies for controlling ground traffic, and more particularly to the field of post assemblies having a removable post.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Barrier traffic control devices are used to physically prevent the flow of traffic into an area and to direct traffic onto desired routes or into other areas. They have been used to control traffic flow on roads, in parking lots, at schools, and universities.

[0004] Attempts to address the control of traffic can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,766 issued to Smith et al on Dec. 23, 1980; U.S. Pat. No. 4,443,567 issued to Sarver et al on Aug. 10, 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,348 issued to Hugron on Feb. 25, 1992; No. 5,895,169 issued to Holm et al on Apr. 20, 1999; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,900 issued to Reale on May 20, 2000. Despite this art, there exists a need for a sturdy removable bollard that has a post that is easily secured, removed and replaced. For example some that are in use are difficult to remove from the ground, particularly when the ground is frozen. Some are extremely heavy because they are filled with cement or other material in an effort to make them stronger. Preferably, the bollard has a post that is light weight, sturdy by design, yet easily secured, removed and replaced.

[0005] The present invention relates to a removable post assembly that can be utilized in pedestrian or vehicular traffic control.

[0006] There is a need for such devices to be readily removable, sturdy, and securely fastened.

SUMMARY

[0007] The present invention is a bollard that satisfies this need. We have determined that a light weight sturdy design can be facilitated by using internal bracing. Preferably, the internal bracing is provided by steel rides, which can also serve as guides in the installation of a cylindrical member. The bollard includes a post having an upper post member and cylindrical member. The cylindrical member has an upper portion that extends into upper post member and lower dependent portion depending from said upper post member. A securing element within the upper post member provided by steel bracing secures the cylindrical member in place. The bollard includes a base, a base top plate and a bore extending from the upper end of the base top plate, for matingly receiving the cylindrical member. The faceplate is secured to the upper portion of the base and has a first aperture to permit receipt of the lower cylindrical member of the post. The plate has a locking aperture and a proximate optional second locking aperture to facilitate securing the post to the base with a locking mechanism, such as a padlock.

[0008] It includes a base having a bore for receiving the depending lower coaxial member of the post. And it includes a plate at the upper end of said base. The plate has a first aperture and a second aperture proximate the first. An eye cleat is proximate the lower end of the upper post member. The eye cleat has an aperture that can be placed proximate to and in alignment with one of the apertures of the base plate when the post is mated with the base. A lock, such as a padlock, can be inserted through the aligned cleat-plate aperture and then through the other plate aperture. In this manner, the post can be removably secured.

[0009] Parts List arranged according to corresponding numbers in the drawings:

[0010]10. Bollard Assembly

[0011]12. Post

[0012]14. Base

[0013]15. Base tube

[0014]16. Upper post member

[0015]18. Cylindrical member

[0016]20. Upper portion

[0017]22. Dependent portion

[0018]24. Securing element

[0019]26. Faceplate

[0020]28. First aperture

[0021]30. Bore

[0022]32. First locking aperture

[0023]34. Second locking aperture

[0024]35. Lock box

[0025]36. End cap

[0026]38. Seal

[0027]40. Eye cleat

[0028]42. Slot

[0029]44. Ground

[0030]46. Ground Surface

[0031]48. Lock

[0032]50. Eye

[0033]52. Shackle

[0034] The bollard can be made from any suitable material, although a corrosion resistant metal, such as is preferred.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:

[0036]FIG. 1 is a cut-away view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037]FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038]FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1A, No. 3

[0040]FIG. 4A is a top view of an embodiment of the invention having a base.

[0041]FIG. 4B is a side view of an embodiment of the invention having a base.

[0042]FIG. 4C is a bottom view of base of an embodiment of the invention.

[0043]FIG. 4D is a sectional view of the base of an embodiment of the invention taken along line 4D-4D of FIG. 4A.

[0044]FIG. 5A is an exploded front view of the installation of an embodiment of the invention having a base installed in the ground and a post positioned for mating insertion into the base.

[0045]FIG. 5B is an exploded side view of an embodiment of the invention having a base installed in the ground, with face plate at ground level and the rest of the base extending downwardly further into the ground.

[0046]FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of an embodiment of the invention in almost locked position.

[0047]FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of an embodiment of the invention in a locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that illustrate embodiments of the invention.

[0049] In FIG. 1 the bollard is depicted generally by numeral 10. Bollard 10 includes post 12 and base 14. Post 12 includes an upper post member 16 and cylindrical member 18. Cylindrical member 18 has an upper portion 20 secured in a fixed position within upper post member 16 and a lower dependent portion 22 that depends from upper post member 16. A securing element 24 within upper post member 16 holds the cylindrical member 18 in place. Tack welds can be placed where securing element 24 and upper portion 20 of cylindrical member 18 meet to further better secure cylindrical member 18 within post 18. Securing element 24 as here depicted is a ride. As shown, the upper post member 16 is substantially hollow, except for securing element 24 and upper portion 20 of cylindrical member 18. This helps to keep the post weight relatively low while the combination of securing member 24 and cylindrical member 18 tends to strengthen post 12.

[0050] In practice, cylindrical member 18 is inserted into upper post member 24 through openings in the rides 24. Then the spot welding can be completed.

[0051] Base 14 has a base tube 15. Base 14 has a faceplate 26 with a first aperture 28 and a bore 30 in communication with said first aperture 28 for matingly receiving cylindrical member 18. Proximate first aperture 28 is a first locking aperture 32. Proximate said first locking aperture 32 is a second locking aperture 34. First locking aperture 32 and second locking aperture 34 directly overlie lock box 35. Base 14 has an end cap 34 at the lower end. End cap 34 is attached at the lower end of base 14. It is preferred that the attachment does not create a complete seal. This is to permit drainage of water from the base while generally preventing or inhibiting the intrusion of sand and dirt. Generally, two spot welds will suffice.

[0052]FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B depict post 12 with eye 50 of the eye cleat aligned with second locking aperture 34 and adjacent first locking aperture 32 seated in base 14 of the depicted embodiments of the invention.

[0053]FIG. 3 depicts eye cleat 40 adjacent slot 42. Eye cleat 40 has an eye 50 that is aligned with second locking aperture 34.

[0054]FIG. 4A through 4B show different views of base 14. 4A shows a top view. FIG. 4 B shows a side view. FIG. 4C shows a bottom view. FIG. 4D depicts a front view. These figures show that the bore 30 is open from the top but appears closed from the bottom. They also show that the lock box 35 has an open cavity for communicating with first locking aperture 32 and second locking aperture 34.

[0055]FIGS. 5A and 5B show bollard 10 being installed in the ground. It shows that the base 14 can be inserted into disparate media. Surface run-off water from rain, car washes or other sources can enter the top of the base 14, potentially filling it up with water that can freeze in the winter cold to hinder removal of the post 12. This underscores the necessity of having an outlet for the water to minimize the problem. The light tack welding of end cap 36 to permit fluid flow helps to alleviate this problem. In addition, the fact that dependent portion 22 of the post is cylindrical helps to facilitate its removal from cold or frozen ground.

[0056]FIG. 6A shows a lock 48 inserted first into aperture 32, down into the lock box 35 (lock box 35 is not shown in this view), and up through second locking aperture 34 and then through eye 50 of eye cleat 40. FIG. 6B shows the lock in a locked position. Thus the post is secured in the base to prevent unwanted tampering or removal. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bollard, comprising: a post having an upper post member, rides within said upper post member, a cylindrical member having an upper portion that passes into and is secured by the rides within the upper post member and a lower cylindrical portion that depends from the upper post member, a base having a bore for receiving the lower cylindrical portion of said post; a plate at the upper portion of said base, said plate having a first aperture in communication with the bore of the base to permit receiving the cylindrical portion of said post by said base, said plate having a first locking aperture and an adjacent second locking aperture; an eye cleat proximate the lower end of the upper post member of said post; said eye cleat having an eye that can be placed proximate to and in alignment with the second locking aperture of the base plate when the post is mated with the base.
 2. The bollard of claim 1, wherein a lock is inserted into and kept in communication with said eye cleat aperture and the locking aperture and is lockably engaged to secure the bollard.
 3. The bollard of claim 1, wherein said upper post member is hollow and said lower cylindrical portion has an upper portion that is matingly received and secured in said upper post member.
 4. The bollard of claim 1, wherein said upper post member has substantially hollow interior and rides within said hollow interior that guide and secure said upper portion therein.
 5. The bollard of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the post has internal rides for securing said lower cylindrical portion.
 6. The bollard of claim 3, wherein the bore of said base a lower portion has bottom fixture that substantially closes the lower end of the bore but does not prevent water flow.
 7. The bollard of claim 1, wherein the upper post member is rectangular.
 8. The method of assembling the bollard assembly of claim 1, comprising the steps of inserting the base into the ground with the face plate at or below grade; inserting said post into said base; aligning said base cleat with said locking aperture; inserting a locking mechanism through said base cleat and locking aperture, and securing the lock.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of inserting the locking mechanism through an additional locking aperture proximate the first locking aperture.
 10. An article of manufacture, comprising the post of claim
 1. 